Naoya Inoue demolishes late replacement Ye Joon Kim

Pound‑for‑pound star Naoya Inoue, already the undisputed super‑bantamweight champion, kicked off 2025 with a stay‑busy defense in Tokyo on 24 January.  Originally slated to face mandatory challenger Sam Goodman, Inoue instead fought South Korea’s Ye Joon Kim when Goodman withdrew with an injury.  Kim took the bout on short notice and gamely tried to land counters, but Inoue’s class was evident.  According to Bad Left Hook’s recap, the Japanese star “had no trouble with an over‑matched but gutsy Ye Joon Kim,” retaining his undisputed crown with a fourth‑round knockout.  Inoue improved to 29‑0 with 26 knockouts and announced plans to fight in Las Vegas and Saudi Arabia later in 2025.

The bout offered little suspense.  Inoue dropped Kim early with a right hand, then finished him in round 4 with a blistering combination that left the challenger unable to beat the count.  The mismatch nevertheless underscored Inoue’s drawing power at home and kept him active as he plotted more significant fights.  With victories over Paul Butler and Marlon Tapales already behind him, the 31‑year‑old “Monster” signaled ambitions of global superstardom, eyeing major events in Las Vegas and the Middle East in the near future.